Travis Head goes bonkers in record-breaking knock as Aussie women overcome scary incident

Travis Head has continued his record-breaking form for Australia after belting a stunning unbeaten century to steer his side to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the first ODI against England at Trent Bridge. Head recorded the highest ever ODI innings by an Aussie batter in England after smashing an unbeaten 154 to help the visitors chase down England's total of 315 with six overs to spare.

Head shared in an unbroken match-winning partnership of 148 with Marnus Labuschagne (77no) - who also took three wickets and four catches - to get the Aussies off to the perfect start in the five-game series. Australia's victory was all the more impressive as it came after illness swept through the squad and ruled out key fast bowling duo Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

The absences did little to halt the Aussies, who did well to restrict England after stand-in captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat first. The home side looked on track for a big score after Ben Duckett lashed 95 and Will Jacks hit 62 on a good wicket, but But Australia took the last eight wickets for 102 as Aussie captain Mitch Marsh got the best out of his group of part-time spinners.

Labuschagne (3-39) made two key caught-and-bowled interventions to get rid of Duckett and Brook (39 off 31) just when they were in full flow. Labuschagne's spell helped world-class tweaker Adam Zampa (3-49), on his 100th ODI appearance, bowl out the hosts for a marginally sub-par total of 315 off 49.4 overs, before Head went about chasing down the target and more history for Australia.

Australia's World Cup hero just recently hit the fastest T20I half century for an Aussie against England. Head also hit an Australian record-equalling fifty against Scotland off just 17 balls, and shared in a world record powerplay total of 113 runs with Marsh. And the big-hitting lefty's astonishing purple patch continued at Trent Bridge as he put England's bowling attack to the sword.

"I've worked extremely hard over a few years and probably play the game a little bit more relaxed now, and take it for what it is," smiled Head, who was dropped by Brydon Carse at deep point in the fourth over. It was a sharp one-handed half-chance off Matthew Potts when Head was on just six and the Aussie made England pay for letting the tough chance go begging.

"I got a bit lucky, obviously. Jof (Jofra Archer) also bowled a hell of a spell at the start, but if you can get through, there's a lot of runs on offer. So nice that I could contribute," Head added. The Aussie's record knock included 20 fours and five sixes off 129 balls, with Head bringing up the ton off 92 deliveries.

Labuschagne enjoyed a superb all-round game, taking 3-39, as well as four catches, before his half-century. It all proved an unlikely cakewalk for Marsh's world champions, considering the skipper had to rely on Labuschagne and his part-time spinners to get the job done. "I'm very happy," said Marsh. "That was a great win, especially after the start England got, and the way we were able to pull it back."

Ash Gardner wiped out in nasty mishap during warm-up

Head's heroics came after Ash Gardner was wiped out of the Australian women's team's five-wicket win over New Zealand, following a bizarre mishap in the warm-up. The reigning Belinda Clark award winner was ruled out of the opening T20I against the Kiwis after colliding with teammate Georgia Wareham. The Aussies were throwing around a vortex in the warm-up but the pair both went to catch it and clashed heads in nasty scenes.

Gardner copped a hit to the jaw and was placed in concussion protocols due to the fact she has a history of head knocks. Fellow allrounder Heather Graham received the late call-up to replace Gardner, with Australia coach Shelley Nitschke calling the incident "hectic". "We walked out and there's something happening in warm up and and then Ash was on the ground, and unfortunately she was ruled out of the game," Nitschke told the Seven Network.

"She's good. It's just a precaution. She's in concussion protocols at the moment and given we've got a fair bit of cricket ahead of us we ruled her out of the game. She's had a test and she passed, but you've got to stay in those protocols for a certain amount of time."

The Aussies ended up claiming a five-wicket win in the series opener after Phoebe Litchfield blasted her highest Twenty20 score - an unbeaten 64 from 43 balls. It helped get the visitors out of hole after slumping to 3-44. Australia went past the White Ferns' 7-143 with eight balls to spare to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

with AAP